Timer



July 24, 1923.

A. W. HOLWAY TIMER Filed vMarch 2O Patented July 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR W. HOLWAY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TIMER.

Application filed March 20, 1919.

T 0 all whom t may concer/a.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. Honwiir, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Timers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to such mechanisms as timers and distributors for internal combustion engines; and it has particularly to do with improvements in a certain type of timer or distributor mechanism; 'the general object of this invention being the provision of improved means and arrangements r to facilitate replacement of worn parts in the type of timer herein described.

This present invention is somewhat along the same lines of improvement my improvement in timers set forth in my agplication Serial No. 277,822, filed Feb. 18, 1919; and the present invention has for its particular object the provision of a form of timer improvement specifically different from that set forth in my said co-pending application, but in general having` the same objects and the same results; and also has for its object certain improvements in mode of operation and in details of construction over said invention described in said application.

In said co-pending application I have stated how, in the type of timer herein described, there is a relatively stationary shell which carries on its interior an insulating ring carrying in its inner face the four or more timer contacts. Each one of these contacts is set in the ring, having a radially extending stud which passes through the ring and through the shell, with binding post on the outer end of the stud. The interior face of the ring and the interior faces of the contacts are iinished together so as to make a continuous circular face over which the rotating timer contact travels. The necessity, and also the ditiiculty, of replacement in such a. timer rises from the 'facts here just stated and from the fact that this inner finished periphery of the ring and of the timer contacts wears away very fast and usually wears to a very rough uneven surface. It is thus necessary very often to renew the contacts; and in such renewal yit has always been previously necessary either to renew the whole assembled combination of shell, ring and contact, or it is Serial No. 288,782.

necessary to force the contacts and the ring out of the shell and then put in a new ring 'and insert new contacts into that ring and then perform a finishing operation upon the assembled contacts and rings. Either one of these methods of renewal is erpensive; and, as stated in my said copending application, it is the general object of these inventions to overcome this dilliculty and expensiveness of renewal.

In said co-pending application I have eX- plained an arrangement wherein there are longitudinal slots cut back from the edge of the shell, to accommodate the passing of the contact studs when the contacts and ring are renewed; and for the purpose of renewal I supply an assembled combination of rings and contacts which may be easily put into the old shell.

In the present application I explain another form and arrangement for easily renewing` the contacts and ring. Instead of providing slots leading in from the edge of the shell, in this particular form of my invention, I split the shell into two parts and make an arrangement so that the split shell may be easily clamped and held tightly on the contact ring and may be as easily loosened to take out an old worn Contact ring and contact.

lVith the foregoing stated general features of my invention in mind, the invention will now be best understood from the following description of a. preferred specific form of device embodying` the invention, reference for this purpose being` had to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing my improved type of mechanism; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken as indicated by line 2 2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken as indicated by line 33 on Fig. 2;,Fig. 4: is a detail plan taken as indicated by line 1 -4 on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig'. 2; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 1; Fig. is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of ring and contact arrangement; and Fig. 8 is a plan of the same, showing also the two shell parts.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates the machine part which forms the supporting base for the timer, this part usually being the crank case of an engine and usually having a circular rim or ridge 11 within which the edge of the timer shell is revolubly seated, the time shell being usually held in position by a suitable spring means, as indicated at 12. According to my present invention I divide the timer shell in two parts, 13 and 14, the part 14 being a ring-shaped part and the part 13 in the form of a cup or cover. The two parts 13 and 14 may be held together by any suitable releasable means. For instance, 1 may use at one side-of the shell clamp screw 15 and at the other side a hook or bail or the like, as illustrated at 17.

For the purpose of best carrying out my invention (although this is not necessary) I may provide the. contact ring 10 with an exterior circular rib or flange 2O which is clamped tightly between the two opposing edges of the shell parts 13 and 14, thus holding the ring land the contacts 21 rigidly and securely in position. However, this flange 20 is not absolutely necessary, for the contact studs 22 have conical washers 23 which set in correspondingly shaped notches 24 in the inner opposing edges of the shall parts 13 and 14.

To remove the ring and contacts for the purpose of renewal it is only necessary to loosen the clamping screw 15 and remove shell part 14 from shell part 13, when the ring 19, with its contacts 21 and studs 22 may be easily lifted out. A new ring, with. its contacts properly set therein and having the proper smooth interior periphery, may then be easily inserted in the shell part 13, and the shell part 14 then put in place and clamped tightly with screw 15. The binding post nuts 25 are then run down tight onthe washers 23, wedging the washers tightly in the conical holes formed by the two opposite conical notches 24 in the edges of the shell parts. Vhen this has been donc, 'itf'will be seen that the ring and its contacts are rigidly and securely held in proper position. They cannot move lengthwise of the shell, due to being clamped between the two parts of the shell; and any radial looseness of the ring in the shell is entirely overcome by the setting of the nuts 25. I have Ahereinbefore said that the circular flange 2O is not necessary; it may be done away with and the edges of the shell parts may vbe vclamped tightly together in direct abutment; but the provision of this flange 2O not only adds to the rigidity and security with which the ring is clamped by the shell, but it also provides a dust-proof and oilproof joint between the two edges of the shell. The ring 19 and its flange 2O are usually made of insulating material which is 'somewhat more yielding than metal and thereforemakes a. good gasket at 20. Of course the flange 20 is cut away at the points indicated 26 in Fig. G, to make the conical shaped depression in the outer surface of the ring into which the conical washer 23 fits; and at this point there may be a slight opening between the surface of washer 23 and the end of the flange; but the slight with ring 19, takes the place of conical.

washer 23. This boss may be cylindrical instead of conical and may be fitted in correspondingly shaped notches 2-1 in the opposite edges of shell parts 23 and 24;. This boss may project beyond the periphery of flange 2O and beyond the shell far enough to raise nut away from the shell to insulate it therefrom. lt will be seen that, in this form of the device, the boss 30 is merely an enlargement of the flange 20 to pass the stud 22 through the shell and that both the flange and the hess are clamped tightly between the shell parts, making a completely oil and dust proof joint. lf the flange 2() is not used in this form the boss 3() may still be used. lf the flange is made wider than shown the bosses may be completely merged in the flange.

As provided for in my said co-pending application, the replacement rings and contacts may be made up in advance, the contacts being properly set in the rings, and finished with their proper inner periphery over which the rolling contact may tra-vel. It is very easy to substitute a new set of ring and contacts for an old set of ring and contacts, without in the least disturbing the proper perfect alignment of the set being inserted. lVhen the new set is in place and the shell properly claniped, it will be seen that the shell is dust proof and oil proof, and that the ring and contacts are rigidly and securely held so as to avoid any looseness or chatter and so to obtain from a set of rings and contacts the longest possible life. Sets of ring and contacts may be originally made in any desired manner; in any manner now in common use; or in such a manner as has been set forth in my said co-pending application, involving the casting or pressing of the ring int-o proper form and shapel with the contacts cast or pressed into it at the time of that operation. Such an operation may be carried on by the use of metal forms, dies, or patterns, so that the ring may be accurately formed and the contacts accurately set therein at a single operation, obviating the need of any subsequent machining operation.

Having described a preferred form et my invention, I claim:

l. In a device of the character described, a shell split circumferentially into two parts, the opposing edges of the two parts of the shell having registering notches therein, a. contact carrying ring within the shell, contacts set in said ring and having radially projecting studs which project outwardly through the ring and thro-ugh the notches in the two parts of the shell, and means to clamp the two parts o1e the shell togethery and clamp their notches around said studs.

2. In a device of the character described, a shell split circumerentially into two parts, the opposite edges of the shell parts having registering notches therein, a contact carrying ring within the shell and having` an outer circun'iferential Harige adapted to be clamped between the two opposing edges of the shell, a. plurality of contacts set in the inner periphery of said ring and having studs projecting radially outwardly through the ring and through the registering notches in the opposing edges of the shell, insulating members surrounding said stud and nuts above the members raised by said member out of contact with the shell, and means to clamp the two parts of the shell together to clamp said flange between them and clamp the said notches tightly around said insulating members.

3. In a device of the character described, a shell split circumlerentially into two parts, the opposite ec ges of the shell parts having registering notches therein, a Contact carrying ring within the shell and having an outer circumferential flange adapted to be clamped between the two opposing edges of the shell, a plurality of contacts set in the inner periphery of' said ring and having studs projecting radially outwardly through the ring and through the registering notches in the opposing edges of the shell, insulating members surrounding said stud and nuts above the members raised by said member out or contact with the shell, and means to clamp the two parts of the shell together to clamp said liange between them and clamp the said notches tigl'itly around said insulat ing members, said insulating members being integral projections from the ring and torming parts of said flange.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of March 1919.

ARTI-IUE IV. IIGLVVAY.

IVitiiess:

VIRGINIA BEBINGER. 

